Laterally and longitudinally adjustabl feet positioning device for golfers



w. M. HANNA April 5, 1966 3,244,421 LATERALLY AND LONGITUDINALLYADJUSTABLE FEET POSITIONING DEVICE FOR GOLFERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMay 8, 1965 William M. Hanna IN VENTOK.

cu WW Em April 5, 1965 w. M. HANNA 3,244,421

LATERALLY AND LONGIIUDINALLY ADJUSTABLE FEET POSITIONING DEVICE FORGOLFERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 8, 1963 William M. Hanna INVENTOR.4015: BY flan United States Patent Office 3,244,421 Patented Apr. 5,1966 a 3,244 421 LATERALLY AND LONG ITUDINALLY ADJUSTA- B LE FEETPOSITIGNING DEVICE FOR GOLFERS William M. Hanna, 2344 Sycamore St, TerreHaute, Ind. Filed May 8, 1963, Ser. No. 278,911

11 Claims. (Cl. 273-187) The present invention is generally concernedwith the game of golf, and more particularly relates to a novel devicefor correcting the stance of a golfer, a proper stance being one of thebasic requirements if the golf ball is to be properly driven.

In the game of golf, the flight path of the golf ball is governed by theangle of the club face when it strikes the ball, this angle beingdetermined by a combination of the players grip on the club, swing andstance. It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide adevicewhereby a players stance can be corrected or made to complementhis swing whereby a straight driving of the ball is effected.

It is another significant object of the instant invention to provide anapparatus whereby a player can determine, with a great degree ofaccuracy,'the stance which he must assume so as to effect a deliberatehook or slice as might be desired in avoiding obstacles.

An additional object of the instant invention is to provide a stancecorrecting device wherein means are provided so as to restrict themovement of the players feet during the swinging of the club, and so asto also make the player instantly aware of Whether or not he hasproperly followed through on his swing.

Likewise, it is an object of the instant invention to immediately advisethe user of the stance corrector of the proper location of the ballrelative to the player for each different club. 7

Furthermore, it is considered to be a significant object of the instantinvention to provide a stance corrector which will be of considerableassistance in clearly demonstrating the. proper stance for eachindividual player regardless of his proficiency at the game. For thosepossessing a high degree of skill, the stance corrector of the instantinvention will be possibly of more assistance in illustrating the properstances for difiicult obstacle avoidingdrives not normally attempted bythe less skilled players.

In achieving the above objects, it is intended that the device of theinstant invention be relatively simple in construction and operation yetextremely effective for guiding the user into proper golfing techniques.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the device comprising the presentinvention, the lateral and longitudinal adjustment being illustrated inphantom lines;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken substantially on aplane passing along line 2- 2 in FIG- URE l;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially on aplane passing along line 3-3 in FIG- URE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a composite schematic view illustrating the use of thedevice.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral isused to generally designate=the stance corrector comprising the presentinvention. This stance corrector 10 consists of a pair of foot plates 12and 14 adjustably interconnected so as to vary both the longitudinal andlateral distance therebetween.

Each of the foot plates 12 and 14 is of a size so as to comfortablyreceive the foot of a user, positioning the feet in a predeterminedarrangement in accordance with the objectives sought. In addition to thebasic foot plates 12 and 14, resilient toe cushions 16 can also beprovided I thus tending to shift the weight of the user to his heels asis desired in assuming a proper golfing stance. Also, it is contemplatedthat rubber straps 17 be used at the option of the user of the device,these straps encircling the toe and toe portion of the foot plates so asto provide additional stability while allowing for the accepted forwardrocking movement.

While the initial stance assumed by the golfer is of prime importance inthe proper swinging of the golf club, it is also essential that theinitial orientation of the feet be maintained throughout the entireswing including the follow-through. Accordingly, brackets 18 and 20 areprovided on each of the plates 12 and 14, these brackets 18 and 20functioning so as to, while retaining the feet in substantially theiroriginal relative position, also allowing for the normal movement of thefeet upon a proper shifting of the weight during the swinging of a club.With reference to FIGURE 1, it will be noted that the bracket 20provided on the rear foot plate, assuming a right-handed golfer, isprovided with a beveled edge 22 thus allowing ,for a pivotal movement ofthe rear foot while at the same time preventing a lifting of the foot,this pivotal movement of the rear foot corresponding with acceptedgolfing practices.

In addition to the brackets 18 and 20 functioning so as to forciblyretain the feet in the proper orientation, it is also intended thatthese brackets be utilized so as to make the user of the deviceimmediately aware of whether or not he has properly followed through orcom pleted his swing. That is, if the swing has not been correctlycompleted, the feet will not in all probability engage against thebrackets, the brackets 18 and 20 being located so as to be engaged bythe feet, during the swing, upon the completion ofthe follow-through,the brackets at this point limiting any further movement of the feet. Assuch, if no pressure from. the brackets is felt on the users feet, hewill immediately be aware of an error on his part.

The means interconnecting the foot plates 12 and 14 for longitudinaladjustment relative to each other consist of a first downwardly openingchannel member 24 welded to, through an angle member 26, the inner sideof the forward foot plate 12, the foot plate 12 including a verticallyextending lip 28 at this point, the channel member 24 having avertically extending bore 3% therethrough adjacentits rear end. A secondchannel member 32, slightly smaller than the channel ,member 24, istelescopically received therein and capable of being fixed thereto in aplurality of longitudinally adjustable positions by means of areleasable bolt and nut fastener 34 extending through the aperture 30 in,the member 24 and through any one of a plurality of apertures 35provided at equally spaced points along the member 32.

The second or rear foot plate 14 is rigidly aflixed, as by welding, to aflat bar 36 extending parallel to the for: ward edge-thereof, this bar36 including a longitudinal slot 38 therein so as to enable a lateraladjustment of the bar 36 and foot plate 14 relative to the channelmembers 32 and 24, this lateral adjustment being effected by a.releasable nut and bolt fastener 49 extending through the rearmostaperture 35 in the member 32 and through the slot 38 in the bar as, thebar 36 overlapping the outer end of the member 32.

In using the stance corrector 10, the golfer first positions the footplates 12 and 14 so as to enable him to assume a square stance asindicated by reference numeral 42, the feet in this square stance beingin lateral alignment with each other, the longitudinal adjustmentafforded by the members 24 and 32 allowing the accommodation of thedevice to the individual golfer regardless of the width of the stancenormally assumed. After the square stance has been assumed, the user ofthe device 10 proceeds to drive a golf ball. If the ball, for arighthanded golfer, assumes the path indicated by reference numeral 44,the rear foot plate 14 is moved forward a predetermined distance, thebar 36 being provided with indicia 46 so as to provide a means forquickly regulating the rear foot plate 14. In this position, the golfersstance has been opened, this opening of the stance tending to result ina slicing of the golf ball so as to overcome the natural hook, indicatedby reference numeral 44, of the golfer in a square stance, this openingof the stance, indicated by reference numeral 48, being regulated untilthe golf ball consistently assumes a straight path 50, this beingaccomplished solely by regulating the stance and without changing thebasic normal swing of the golfer.

By the same token, if the golfers normal swing in a square stanceresults in a slicing of the ball as indicated by reference numeral 52,the rearward plate 14 is adjusted so as to be positioned slightly to thelateral rear of the front plate thus closing the golfers stance asindicated by reference numeral 54 and consequently tending to result ina hooking of the ball. .This closing of the stance, as was the case inthe opening of the stance, being varied, with the aid of the referencenumerals 46, until the normal swing of the golfer results in a straightprojection of the ball as indicated by reference numeral 56.

In using the device 10 in this manner, a golfer, regardless of hisproficiency, can be assisted in properly relating his stance to hisswing thus attaining his maximum efficiency.

While the device has been particularly described as a means for enablingthe avoidance of either a hook or slice, it should also be appreciatedthat the device will also be of assistance, especially in regard to themore proficient golfers, in deliberately causing the ball to assume aflight path other than the normally desired straight flight path so asto avoid various obstacles. This is effected by using the device toeither open or close the golfers stance a specific distance asdetermined by the reference numbers 46 thus making the golfer aware asto what path the ball will take for each particular arrange ment so asto allow an adaptation of his stance to the particular situationinvolved.

In order to stabilize the stance correcting device 10 during the usethereof, earth penetrating stabilizing pins 58 are provided so as toproject downwardly from each of the foot plates 12 and 14. Further, aswill be appreciated from FIGURE 3, the lower edges of the channelmembers 24 and 32 are pointed as at 60 so as to easily penetrate theearth thus also preventing any movement of the device during its use.

In conjunction with properly orientating the feet of a golfer relativeto each other, the device 10 of the instant invention provides means forinsuring a proper location of the ball, this being done by guide lines62 on the upper surface of the channel member 24, these reference lines62 indicating the proper rearward location of the golf ball from thefront foot for each particular golf club, whether a wood or an iron.

From the foregoing, it will now be appreciated that a novel golf stancecorrecting device has been defined, this device quickly and effectivelyenabling a golfer to correspond his stance to his golf swing so as todirect the golf ball along a desired flight path, whether this bestraight or curved so as to avoid an obstacle. The particular advantagesobtained from the device of the instant invention result from the mannerin which the device can both laterally and longitudinally adjust thespace between the golfers feet, as well as the ability of the device toboth limit the movement of the golfers feet and simultaneously advisethe golfer as to whether or not his swing has been successfullycompleted, a proper follow-through bringing the golfers feet intoengagement with the retaining brackets. While the stance corrector hasbeen specifically illustrated and described as being used by aright-handed golfer, it will of course be recognized that such a deviceis equally adaptable for lefthanded golfers, this adaptation of thedevice for lefthanded golfers requiring only a reversal of the parts.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A golf stance corrector consisting of a first front foot plate, afirst elongated member rigidly fixed to and projecting laterally fromsaid foot plate, a second elongated member telescopically associatedwith the first elongated member and being longitudinally adjustablerelative thereto, means for releasably fixing the second member to thefirst member in a plurality of longitudinally adjusted positions, asecond rear foot plate, and laterally adjustable mounting meansreleasably fixing the second foot plate to the outer end of the secondelongated member at any one of a plurality of laterally spaced positionsrelative to said outer end.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said last-mentioned adjustable meansconsists of a third elongated member positioned perpendicularly acrossthe outer end of the second member for lateral adjustment relativethereto, and means releasably fixing the third elongated member to thesecond elongated member in any one of a plurality of adjusted positions,said second foot plate being rigidly secured to the third elongatedmember for adjustment therewith.

3. The device of claim 2 including a bracket on each foot plate, eachbracket including a portion in spaced generally parallel relation aboveits corresponding foot plate so as to receive the forward portion of afoot therebeneath for limiting the movement of the feet in accordancewith accepted practices during the swing of a golf club.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein each bracket portion extends inwardlyover the foot plate from the forward edge thereof and terminates in afree end over approximately the center of the foot plate, the free endon the bracket of the rear foot plate being beveled so as to allow foran upward and rearward pivoting of a foot positioned on the rear footplate during swinging of a golf club.

5. The device of claim 2 including ground-penetrating stabilizer pinsprojecting downwardly from the bottom of each foot plate.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the first and second elongated membersconsist of downwardly opening channel-bars nested within each other andprovided with ground-penetrating lower edges.

7. The device of claim 2 wherein the first and second elongated membersconsist of downwardly opening channel-bars, the second member beingsmaller than and nested within the first member.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the first and second members areprovided with sharpened ground-penetrating lower edges.

9. The device of claim 2 including a raised toe cushion on each footplate.

10. The device of claim 9 including a resilient strap positioned on thetoe portion of each foot plate for engagement over the toes of a user ofthe device.

11. A golf stance corrector comprising a first foot plate, a firstelongated member rigidly fixed to the first foot plate and projectinglaterally therefrom, a second elongated member telescopically associatedwith said first member and being longitudinally extensible relativethereto, means for locking said second member to said first member inany one of a plurality of longitudinally adjusted positions, a thirdelongated member slid ably positioned transversely across the outer endof said second member for transverse adjustment relative thereto, meansfor locking said third member to said second member in any one of aplurality of transversely adjusted positions, and a second foot platefixed to said third member for transverse adjustment with the thirdmember and longitudinal adjustment with the second member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Marguardt.

Paulsen 273-187 Israel.

Robinson.

Cr-ossot 273187 Rolfe 273-487 Smith et a1 273-187 Great Britain.

15 DELBERT B, LOWE, Primary Examiner.

1. A GOLF STANCE CORRECTOR CONSISTING OF A FIRST FRONT FOOT PLATE, AFIRST ELONGATED MEMBER RIGIDLY FIXED TO AND PROJECTING LATERALLY SAIDFOOT PLATE, A SECOND ELONGATED MEMBER TELESCOPICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THEFIRST ELONGATED MEMBER AND BEING LONGITUDINALL ADJUSTABLE RELATIVETHERETO, MEANS FOR RELEASABLY FIXING THE SECOND MEMBER TO THE FIRSTMEMBER IN A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY ADJUSTED POSITION, A SECOND REARFOOT PLATE, AND LATERALLY ADJUSTABLE MOUNTING MEANS RELEASABLY FIXINGTHE SECOND FOOT PLATE EO THE OUTER END OF THE SECOND ELONGATED MEMBER ATANY ONE OF A PLURALITY OF LATERALLY SPACED POSITIONS RELATIVE TO SAIDOUTER END.